Reaching a Milestone

Yesterday our view completely changed in our backyard........

A very old oak tree that had dominated the back landscape was taken down because of damage, hollowness, and falling limbs....

Today we celebarte 18 years of marriage....all good years... This man means the world to me...he has allowed and encouraged me to be me...he has made me a better woman and I have grown..so has he. We have been good for each other and that is what marriage is all about..Growing and changing together, not apart... I decided to revisit my words from the 15 year mark....they are still so true...

Fifteen years ago I was busily preparing to run away with my beloved and secretly get married.........

It was a week that changed my life........

I was marrying a man that truly loved me....cherished me.....desired me......and I felt the same way towards him....

We were pretty scared...both of us had been in bad marriages that had ended in divorce and we didn't want to make the same mistakes again....we had talked about a lot of things during our dating and we had come a long way but we were still hurting and broken people.. we decided to become a team and walk out the rest of life TOGETHER...best decision I have ever made besides choosing to say YES to God..but that is another story...this one is about the man God brought into my life and forever changed me and my life...

Little did we know all the battles we would have to fight together...and win.....and all of the life circumstances we would have to overcome...but we had together...and LOVE....and we had God on our side...

As I go about my week, I can't help but remember all of the preparations we were making to get married...no big fanfare this time.....no big fancy parties...just us...and God....we were following Him and it was good....

I am so excited to reach the 15 year mark..for some reason it sounds like a long marriage now...no more newlywed status...I have lots of friends that are reaching the 40 year mark in their marriages...never did I dream that at this age I would be where I am....we have talked about this a lot...that I have been married for a total of 37 years  but the number that is recognized is 15....where do people that have been divorced put all of those years that were spent in a broken marriage?  I think it is a valid question.....a different perspective on our generation......
because if 15 years is the actual number of years I have been married, it means I was not married for quite a long time......so , it is a subject that I think needs to be addressed..especially in a world where more than 50% are divorced......the actual number of years married........mine is 37 years.....22 years to learn what NOT TO DO  and then 15 years to put those lessons into practice.........

I was very young when I first got married and had a lot of learning ahead of me...hopefully I have learned a lesson or two or three......a whole lot of what not to do...I am tired of learning things the hard way..it is much easier for me to yield now to people that know more than I do....I realize I do not know everything!!

But this one thing I DO know, I have been happily married for 15 years to the man of my dreams.....
that kind of man is worth every day of waiting that you do...do NOT settle for an imitation or just any ol' body you can find...it is really important to marry the right person.......


I found this on Pinterest yesterday and it so perfectly sums up my husband......women, PLEASE wait on this man in your life......don't settle for anything less....

I could write all day about divorce and remarriage..it is my passion....but now...

Let the celebrating begin...........

We have reached a MILESTONE!  in just a few days we will mark the actual day..you will have to come back this weekend to read about that part.....

thank you for stopping by today....go out and get you some spring on !!!!

                                                       Mona